Hundreds of bus drivers are to stage a one-day strike in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions agreements.

Members of Unite working for First Manchester Ltd will walk out today, claiming "serious breaches" of long-standing industrial agreements.

Unite regional officer Neil Clarke said: "It is with a heavy heart that our members have been left with no option but to strike. We regret any inconvenience and disruption caused to passengers, but they cannot and will not sit by and let their hard-fought for agreements be trashed.

"All the issues in this dispute could easily be resolved by the senior management and at no financial cost to the business.

"This is not a question of ability, but of a willingness to honour commitments and agreements that the company have signed up to."